VMC orders clearance of Vishwamitri riverbed obstructions

Vadodara: The Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) has directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the National High Speed Rail Corporation Ltd (NHSRCL) to remove obstructions from the Vishwamitri riverbed ahead of the monsoon. The directive follows a joint site inspection and discussions involving VMC officials and environmental activists.

Concerns over riverbed obstructions gained prominence after last year's floods, when photos and videos released by activists showed blocked sections of the river allegedly caused by ongoing work for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project. One particular site was said to have a temporary check dam-like structure, drawing sharp criticism.

On Tuesday, VMC officials and three environmental experts appointed by the Gujarat State Human Rights Commission visited locations along the river where work by NHAI and NHSRCL was ongoing. At Dena crossroads, obstructions caused by NHAI were found, while at Maretha, an NHSRCL-related obstruction was noted.

Following the inspection, VMC commissioner Arun Mahesh Babu summoned officials from both agencies for a meeting, which was also attended by the state-appointed experts. Both NHAI and NHSRCL were instructed to remove the obstructions at the earliest.

Environmental activist Rohit Prajapati, along with urban planners Neha Sarvate and Mitesh Panchal, raised further concerns during the meeting. They pointed out that several pillars for the bullet train project had been erected not only in the riverbed but also on its floodplain. The group demanded that NHSRCL provide detailed information about these structures.